What to expect: Ryle has proven itself to be the best team in Northern Kentucky, but it will still likely get challenged in this always tough and competitive district. The Raiders went 6-0 against the three other district teams.

Boone County beat Conner in their only matchup this season 8-5 back on April 1.

34th District

Where: St. Henry High School, Erlanger (except for championship, which is at Dixie Heights High School, Crestview Hills).

What to expect: Dixie should have no problem reaching the championship game as it beat both potential semifinal foes Ludlow (6-0) and Villa Madonna (10-0), and it beat possible championship opponent Lloyd 5-0.

St. Henry and Lloyd split their two matchups this season, with St. Henry winning 8-7 on April 15 and Lloyd winning 6-4 on April 23.

First-round foes Ludlow and Villa Madonna split this season, with Ludlow winning 5-2 on April 8 and Villa Madonna winning 13-12 on April 30.

What to expect: Covington Catholic already recorded a big win when it won the blind draw for the top seed in the district tournament after it finished in a three-way tie with Beechwood and Holy Cross. The Colonels beat semifinal foe Holmes, 14-3. They also beat Beechwood, 4-2, but lost to Holy Cross, 11-4.

Beechwood beat Holy Cross twice this season, 4-3 in a non-district seed game, and 9-4 in the district seed game. The Tigers have allowed just 2.8 runs per game this season.

36th District

Where: Morscher Park Complex, Route 8 in Campbell County (except Tuesday, which is at Newport High School).

What to expect: NewCath and Highlands are clearly the top two teams in this district and each could advance to the regional championship game for a second straight season.

NewCath has the deepest pitching staff in the region and a tough 1-2 punch in seniors Josh Cain and Connor Bartels. The Thoroughbreds, who are seeking a third straight Ninth Region title, went 8-3 in their final 11 games.

Highlands enters the postseason with just a .500 record, but played an extremely tough schedule. The Bluebirds entered last postseason sub.-500 and ripped off five straight wins before losing to NewCath in the regional championship, 3-1.

What to expect: Harrison County has been a dominant team in the region for over two decades and especially in this district. The Thorobreds went 11-1 against regional foes and 6-0 against district foes, winning five of those games by a combined score of 61-4, including 32-0 in its two wins over semifinal foe Robertson County. Possible championship game foe Nicholas County lost one of its two games against Harrison County just 7-6.

Pendleton County beat Nicholas County in both of their meetings this season, 2-1 on April 18 and 5-2 on May 1.

Softball

8th Region

(Winner and runner-up advance to regional tournament at Anderson County High School the week of May 27)

What to expect: Gallatin County is the team to beat as its only loss this season came in the Touchstone Energy All 'A' Classic State Tournament to St. Henry 9-7, but it will face several tough challenges.

It beat likely semifinal opponent Owen County twice, but just 3-2 and then 7-2, and beat possible championship game opponent Carroll County twice, just 4-3 each time, and the other possible title game foe Henry County only 3-2.

Carroll County beat Henry County twice this season, 11-1 on April 9 and 7-3 on May 7.

9th Region

(Winner and runner-up advance to regional tournament at Conner High School the week of May 27)

What to expect: For the first time since 2006 a team other than Ryle and Conner will advance from this tournament as they face each other in the semifinal round. They have not only met for the district championship each year since, but have played for the regional title for the last six seasons with Ryle winning the last three regional titles.

Boone County earned the No. 1-seed in the district by splitting with Ryle (winning 2-1 and losing 6-2) and sweeping Conner (4-1 and 3-0).

Conner and Ryle split this season with Ryle winning 6-1 on April 17 and Conner winning 5-4 on May. 8.

What to expect: Dixie Heights showed it's the team to beat after beating St. Henry twice recently - 11-7 on May 11 and 3-2 on May 15. The Lady Colonels should advance to the title game as it beat both possible semifinal opponents Ludlow and Villa Madonna by combined 30-1. They also beat the other possible championship opponent Lloyd 16-1.

Semifinal opponents St. Henry and Lloyd met once this season with St. Henry winning 4-0 on April 25.

What to expect: Highlands went 5-0 against district teams and should have no trouble reaching the championship game as it faces the Bellevue/Dayton winner in the semifinal round and it beat those teams by a combined 36-2 this season.

Semifinal foes NewCath and Newport met just once this season with NewCath winning 2-1 on May 1.

Highland beat both: NewCath twice by scores of 4-3 each time and Newport 15-5 on May 14.

10th Region

(Winner and runner-up advance to regional tournament at Bourbon County High School the week of May 27)

What to expect: While none of the teams in the district have a winning record, Brossart is still the team to beatas it went 4-0 against the other four teams by a combined score of 63-7. Campbell County did play the Lady 'Stangs pretty tough in a 9-5 Brossart win.

Campbell County down semifinal foe Scott, 20-0, in their only meeting this season.